Chasing my first Brook trout here soon

[JestersHK]

I will get a pic of him off my gopro John!  Some type of shad minnow.  

Went back to the Green river again today and it was totally blown out and rolling after the storms we had last night. Super muddy... Hiked an angler trail about a half mile back in trying to find a small cove creek but the trail stopped in some really thick undergrowth and we had to double back.  Lots of bear sign and tracks too! 

From there we called it, and drove to a nearby town hendersonville looking for a fly shop that no longer existed... 

At this point it was almost 10:30 and not a line in the water yet LOL.  We drove all over NC it seemed like before we found a number for Davidson Outfitters and made the trek to the Pisgah national forest home of the Davidson River. The Davidson river is a beauty, and I finally at least saw some of my first NC trout. Fished the ripples with some ants and beetles with no luck. Came to a decent size deeper pool and went to jigging with an ultra light. Had 2 strikes but couldn't get hooked up... But I came darn close LOL.

Davidson river is about an hour and 30 minutes away from where we are staying, but I wished I would of went there first. We didn't hit the water till 11:30ish and I think if we'd gotten there in the morning we would of had better luck.

Going to try the broad river this evening and maybe head back to the davidson river tomorrow or Friday.

My search continues for my first NC Trout!  I've spent more time driving and hiking than fishing, but it really is beautiful country up here so I can't complain.

Hopefully I have fish pics soon here to post!

[JestersHK]

Was a long hard morning, but success was finally reached!  Got him on a 18 size piss ant out of a pool below some Rapids. Not the best pics, and he almost qualified as a minnow size wise, but I accomplished my mission of catching a wild stream bred native from NC . 

have some sweet footage of me busting the old posterior on some super slick rocks too when I can get back and dump the gopro LOL

[Johnsfolly]

JHK

Congrats on your first wild NC trout! Great looking fish. Hope to see some more pictures of your next couple of trout. Good luck on the rest of your trip.

[JestersHK]

Thanks John. I hope to catch some more too. Unfortunately this water shed is in a drought with super low water and real skittish fish, and the green river was blown out and flooded.  

All of the locals and even the hatchery guys said I picked about the worst possible week to fish lol. That's about my luck  but it's been a great trip so far no matter what. 

[JestersHK]

Made it back home.  Wish I had better news, but the Broad river I was skunked...  Had one hooked up on top water, but never got him to hand.  Some serious ankle busting going on as its basically fishing a boulder field  Played with a river otter for a bit as he followed me up and down the opposite side bank.  I guess wanting a hand out. 

Better part of my vacation was a nice little hike up Chimney Rock with my oldest kiddo.  The elevator was out so we tackled the 500 steps to the top.  Amazing views and really neat park.  Working on gopro editing so may update this thread one more time if I get some good pics or footage.  Minus the one of me face planting into the stream   

I will say one thing I truly appreciate our fisheries here in our state.  I talked to the hatchery folks on the Davidson river and they were more than impressed with the size of fish that come out of our waters.  Apparently the size, temps, and depths all play apart in why the fish are a bit on the smaller size than what I'm used to.  That and the time of year is not what they call "trout season" to them.  Mostly fish them in the winter months.